A protester from animal rights group PETA stole the show Tuesday night as Pharrell Williams talked about his animated biopic Piece by piece at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto Film Festival.
The PETA activist approached the stage as Williams held a post-screening Q&A and slammed the singer and producer for using fur and wild animal skins as the creative director of Louis Vuitton's men's collection. The animal rights advocate shouted, “Stop torturing animals,” as Williams, looking down from the stage with TIFF lead programmer Anita Lee at his side, responded, “You're right. You're right. God bless you.”
The PETA supporter was eventually whisked away at a snail's pace by three security guards, as captured in footage of the event posted by the animal rights group on its Instagram page.
“We would love to stop interrupting Pharrell’s appearances, but despite all the talk, he has not yet abandoned fur and exotic skins,” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement after the interruption.
“Pharrell can decide in the blink of an eye today to use his power for good and stop being complicit in cruelty: it is very easy to be kind,” he added.
Earlier, during TIFF, PETA activists had protested a press screening for Piece by piece, the animated documentary about the singer, songwriter and record producer Pharrell Williams, during a screening for the press and industry professionals.
Protesters also urged Williams to stop using fur and wild animal fur in her collections and instead use synthetic fur and fur as more environmentally friendly solutions.
The international premiere of Piece by piece the director was also present at TIFF Morgan Neville and producers Mimi Valdés Caitrin Rogers. The animated biopic features Williams, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg.